Australia Network (cable network in Asia) ceasing broadcast on 29 Sep

[dajop]

For those that travel to Asia and occasionally turn on to the Australia Network, as foreshadowed in budget, Australia Network will cease broadcasting, and the date for this will be 28 Sep. From 29 Sep, a limited ABC broadcast will be provided under "Australia Plus" branding. I wonder if that just means ABC only programming, nothing from commercial networks. Time to find a good Australian VPN to sign up, like I should have done a while ago.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sky starting an equivalent service soon-ish. Equivalent except for the cost to the taxpayers. ABC lost the last Australia network tender but was given the rights against all advice.

And what the hell is the ABC doing still broadcasting "Australia Plus" into Asia when I can't receive its main local radio service along big slabs of the East coast of Tassie?

 

[yohy?!]

Absolute bone headed travesty after Australia Network secured broadcast rights to mainland China

 

[Isochronous]

Absolute bone headed travesty after Australia Network secured broadcast rights to mainland China

Not really. The Australia Network has no relevance to the ABC's right to sell programmes in China, which it is now allowed to do and setup an office in Shanghai. Chinese broadcasters have been permitted to buy.

Good riddance to the Australia Network. It just told the world that Australia is a nation of uneducated bogan racists who hate the environment.

 

[moa999]

Was good for Australian sport o/s though

 

[get me outta here]

I was just watching it in GUM. It was a very welcome relief from the mindless drivel and even more mindless constant adverts of most US tv in cheaper hotel rooms. But, I guess that's what you get when you do away with publicly funded quality TV.

 

[medhead]

Sky starting an equivalent service soon-ish. Equivalent except for the cost to the taxpayers. ABC lost the last Australia network tender but was given the rights against all advice.

And what the hell is the ABC doing still broadcasting "Australia Plus" into Asia when I can't receive its main local radio service along big slabs of the East coast of Tassie?

Two completely unrelated problems. Have you bothered to talk to your government representation about funding the abc sufficiently to be able to provide said service?

 

[amaroo]

Comrades in the Far East will have to find another way to get their daily dose....

 

[Steelo]

Except for the sport it will not be a loss. Cost a fortune of tax payers money, for a collection of BBC programs and the broadcasting of the bias views of the ABC collective.

 

[get me outta here]

Whilst resting in the comfort of a lovely htl in HKG, I have been able to catch debates on the BBC, and in the House of Lords and Commons and Al Jezeera. Amazingly people of all persuasions have been able to air their views, valid questions and talk to each other without being shouted done by ideologues. Yes, it seems the Far East does suffer through all this ....

 

[amaroo]

Malcolm Turnbull seems to have a clear policy agenda with the likes of the ABC ... Isn't it wonderful we have someone running the thing without the theatrics of the "red underpants" on the head trick!

THE ABC is “not a workers’ collective” but exists to efficiently serve the public, Malcolm Turnbull said yesterday, as he defended the possibility of hundreds of job cuts.

The Communications Minister said he would not confirm speculation about the size or scope of possible budget cuts but he said a speculated funding reduction of $200 million over four years would not be a disaster.

“The ABC’s annual budget is well over a billion dollars and *people are talking about $200m over four years,” Mr Turnbull told ABC Radio in Melbourne.

“So when you look at it in that way ... even the numbers that are being floated do not represent a very large percentage of the ABC’s revenues.

”Asked about the prospect that could mean 500-600 job cuts and what effect that would have on programs, Mr Turnbull said it would depend on which staff were cut. “The ABC is not a workers’ collective. Right,” he said.

“It is not designed to exist for the benefit of its employees, however wonderful and lovable and adorable as they may be.

“It is designed to provide a service to the public. It’s about the public and so the obligation on the ABC is to run its business as *efficiently as possible.

”Mr Turnbull said this included delivering programming in accordance with its charter and to be accurate and impartial in respect of news and current affairs.

 

[oobi doobi]

Could not agree more. We often travel to Singapore and always watch Australia network, especially the aussie rules football. Will miss it greatly.

 

[medhead]

Love how valid political questioning becomes biased views in the minds of some. Funny how the bias only exists when the abc question the objects of affection of the persons falsely screaming bias. I didn't see you lot screaming bias when the abc was dropping bombs on the alp government. That illustrates the only bias going around here. The sort of bias that defends a political witch hunt to axe a valuable service that promotes Australia's interests aboard.

 

[Austman]

The ABC's iView needs to be available internationally (and not via ip tricks). If that can be done, it will lessen the loss of the Australia Network.

 

[Hvr]

Except for the sport it will not be a loss. Cost a fortune of tax payers money, for a collection of BBC programs and the broadcasting of the bias (sic) views of the ABC collective.

I wonder if you've viewed the network whilst overseas? It presents a range of Australian shows (some from commercial networks) and news that provides information about Australia and the region. Play School is hardly biased. I cannnot remember any BBC programs on the international network.

The same money will be spent to allow a commercial network to present their own biased (generally hard right wing as the Murdoch empire is prone to do) views that will not be conducive to the view that Australia is a good neigbour and contributor to the region.

For some reason there is never any mention of how the commercial networks have their own biases, yet any time the ABC fails to mention just how wonderful the Liberal government is (regardless of the truth) the screams and whinges of bias are raised.



The cessation of this unbiased network will be a long term loss to Australia's reputation in the region at the very time we need to be increasing our reputation as a safe and tolerant democracy.

 

[dajop]

Good riddance to the Australia Network. It just told the world that Australia is a nation of uneducated bogan racists who hate the environment.

and the broadcasting of the bias views of the ABC collective.

Contradiction in views perhaps? Yes ABC is really biased and full of uneducated bogan racists who hate the environment.... :!:

Actually, it's the Australian shows that make it to the regular cable networks (think cooking, renovation & "top model" type shows) that do provide a snapshot of Australlia .... not sure if these snapshot are all that accurate ..... or are they ?

Anyway, I found the Australia network did little to perpetuate certain views of Australians (such as bogan environment hating) ... the internet, and our tourists in certain places, do that far more effectively. I actually found a good smattering of programs ranging from Business News, Australian Story, Landline, Four Corners, various series and Mini Series (eg Howzat, Paper Giants etc) that actually were interesting. Not to mention the sports and childrens programming. Probably the program that it aired, that is fairest to allege bias against would have to be Q&A.

God forbid, I even have turned on Home & Away a couple of times (something I would never do in Australia) just because it wasn't yet another US crime drama, (un)reality show or unfunny sitcom .... or a 14th re-run of what was once a good BBC program on the BBC network. Just nice to have the TV on in the background with Australian rather than American accents.

 

[medhead]

As a panellist based opinion show QandA will of course include biased views on topics. But it also includes a panelists with a range of positions across the spectrum who are all given equal chance to express their opinion.

Anyway, tax payer money now being given to a commercial network to spread their biased views. The lack of condemnation from certain people is deafening.

 

[amaroo]

Anyway, tax payer money now being given to a commercial network to spread their biased views. The lack of condemnation from certain people is deafening.

Pretty sure the cut is permanent and not being redirected to another organisation...

While the Australia Network cost taxpayers $223 million over 10 years, Sky News’s Australia Channel, a subscription service via the internet, will broadcast to 180 countries, including China and the Middle East, at no cost to the taxpayer.
Australians travelling overseas will become accustomed to seeing the news channel because it will also be the news service available in Qantas lounges internationally.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and opposition communications spokesman Jason Clare were both briefed over the weekend on the new Australia Channel.Sky had submitted a tender for the Australia Network service under the Gillard government.But despite the fact Sky was *favoured by two *expert recommendations, the ABC was controversially awarded the contract by then communications minister Stephen Conroy.

 

[Musongman]

I will miss it here in Thailand, watching the ABC news was a minor joy if I tuned in at the right time, and a few old shows were welcome as well.
However, we are spoilt for choice in Asia from the various cable and satellite channels, and the Internet reveals all!
Community TV, I hear is also about to get the chop? Ch-44 had some odd and interesting programmes.

 

[RooFlyer]

As a panellist based opinion show QandA will of course include biased views on topics. But it also includes a panelists with a range of positions across the spectrum who are all given equal chance to express their opinion.

<snip>.

Sure, there's a ' range', with the chosen spectrum mostly being from soft left to loony left. But anyone in the 'far left' position sees balance, to their left and right, so everything is just dandy.